[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(///////sot/////)
[IN=]

[3:03:34] (( Kirk Murphy/PROTESTER IT'S A DEPLORABLE USE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL, UNARMED DEMONSTRATORS.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT=unarmed demonstrators.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Some 500 people are arrested in two days of World Trade Organization protests.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And Britain and Ireland sign historic cooperation treaties setting up new government for Northern Ireland.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Seattle]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=News-7 at noon]


There is an uneasy quiet in Seattle -- following yet another overnight disturbance.
In an incident outside the downtown area, nearly a-thousand protesters and neighbors gathered on street corners last night-- shouting for police and National Guard troops to get out.
Police scattered them with tear gas.
Seattle police have been out in force as delegates to the World Trade Organization begin day three of their four-day conference.
Following Tuesday's violent confrontations, the mayor has declared a 50-block downtown area a security zone and implemented a curfew.
Drew Levinson has the details.
[Live=Levinson Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Seattle, WA;]
( ad lib)

[****ROLLED FROM NEWSPATH****]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Seattle, WA; :00]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=global trade talks]

((A SEVEN HOUR STANDOFF IN THE CAPITOL HILL SECTION ENDED EARLY THIS MORNING WHEN POLICE MOVED IN... (NATZ OF FIRING TE
AR GAS) THIS CONFRONTATION WAS NOT IN THE SAME AREA AS EARLIER PROTESTS AND MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE FURIOUS. SOT:

MOS GUY SCREAMING "WE ARE RESIDENTS, THERE WAS NO PROTESTERS, NONE OF US ARE PROTESTERS HERE.." THERE WAS ALSO PLENTY OF ACTION IN THE DOWNTOWN SHOPPING DISTRICT OVERNIGHT. DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS FROM POLICE TO LEAVE-- DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED WELL PAST THE CITY CURFEW OF 7PM. POLICE EVENTUALLY TOOK CONTROL USING TEAR GAS, PEPPER SPRAY AND FLASH BOMBS. M
OS SOT: "I WAS PEACEFULLY PROTESTING, I CAME OUT OF WORK, SAT DOWN AND WASN'T GOING TO LEAVE." IN SPITE OF THE PROTESTS

AND VIOLENCE, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS KEPT HIS SCHEDULE HERE. TODAY THE PRESIDENT SIGNS A TREATY THAT BANS THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR. YESTERDAY, HE ADDRESSED THE TRADE MINISTERS URGING THEM TO INCLUDE WORKERS RIGHTS IN GLOBAL TRADE TALKS. (LEVINSON STANDUP) "Now the Curfew has been expanded to 24 hours here in the downtown area. People who don't live or work here or are part of the WTO could be arrested. Drew Levinson, CBS News, Seattle. ))


[Live=Levinson Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Seattle WA;]
( ad lib)



[581-Rocks]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-45 TC57:30]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The men who threw rocks at drivers on Interstate 581 two months ago are working out a plea agreement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 26;]


Witnesses say three adults and a juvenile threw rocks onto the highway from a spot on the side of the road near the Liberty Road overpass.
No one was hurt but nine cars were damaged.
21-year-old Irvin Divers, 20-year-old Travis Scott and 18-year-old James Smith all waived their right to a preliminary hearing today.
The juvenile goes to court this afternoon.
(-------------)



[UVA-Lawsuit]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]


A judge has thrown out a Roanoke couple's half million dollar lawsuit against the University of Virginia Medical Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]


David and Mistie Huffman sued after being given the wrong dead infant by the hospital last year.
The body mixup was discovered within a few hours and was corrected.
They claimed financial loss and emotional distress.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


But an Albemarle County judge ruled that their suit lacked legal sufficiency.
Under state law, emotional distress claims are granted only for physical injury, willful and wanton misconduct or a separate monetary claim.

[Franklin-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


An early morning accident killed a man in Franklin County.
It happened on route 6-16 also known as Scrugss Road.
Just after one o'clock a car driven by 22 year old Timonty St. Clair ran . off the road, hit a utility pole and overturned.
St. Clair died at the scene.

[Rubatex]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex]


Nothing may have immediately changed, but it's a start.
Last night, for the first time since September - Rubatex and it's striking union met face to face.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


The striking steel workers union requested the closed-door meeting and brought a new contract proposal to the table, however the details of it were not disclosed.
But Rubatex officials said before and after the meeting they weren't going to budge from their original offer .
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=there is no change]

((JIM LAURIN/RUBATEX CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: THERE IS NO CHANGE IN OUR LAST, BEST, AND FINAL OFFER, WE AGREED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME CLARIFICATION MEETING OUR LAST BEST AND FINAL OFFER.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Laurin/Rubatex Chief Negotiator; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=final offer]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A federal mediator sat in on the negotiations.
There's no word on when the two sides might meet again.
(------------)



[Ireland]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Ireland has now officially dropped its territorial claim to Northern Ireland.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin, Ireland;]

[9:12:54]
Ireland's Prime Minister today made it officials by signing amendments to the Republic's constitution.
Senior British and Irish officials also signed documents confirming the accord.
It's one in a series of steps designed to put into force last year's Good Friday peace agreement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

[9:10;50] ((TONY BLAIR:THE PEOPLES OF THESE ISLAND, BRITISH AND IRISH, PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CONFLICT WHICH YOU KNOW STRETCHES BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS. TOO OFTEN IT HAS BROKEN OUT IN VIOLENCE. THOUSANDS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST. MILLIONS HAVE SUFFERED FROM INEQUALITY, AND INJUSTICE. EVERY GENERATION HAS SUFFERED. TODAY, AT LEAST WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF A NEW DISPENSATION WITH HOPE IN PLACE OF PAIN AND CONFIDENCE IN PLACE OF FEAR.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Blair/British Prime Minister;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=in place of fear.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Belfast, Northern Ireland;]


In another historic move, Northern Ireland's new cabinet met for the first time in Belfast.
Also, today the Irish Republican Army and Protestant paramilitary groups are expected to announce appointments of representatives to a disarmament commission.
(------------)


[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


There's good news for folks flying over the Christmas holiday.
The details are still ahead on News-7 at noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And investigators in Australia try to figure why two trains smashed into each other.
Let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[Detroit-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]


A pre-dawn blaze in Detroit killed six people from one family.
Three children are dead, along with their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Detroit, MI]


The victims were all found on the first floor of the house, which has steel bars on the windows and steel doors on the front and side.
Fire officials say the blaze started in the basement, where the children may have been sleeping.
(------------)



[train-ax]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Train Crash Investigation]


At least six people are dead and more than 50 injured after two trains collided today near Sydney, Australia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Near Sydney, Australia;]

[3;06:22]
One train filled with workers and students slammed into another carrying tourists.
Man of the injured are hospitalized in critical or serious condition.
An investigation into the crash continues, with authorities looking into the possibility of a signal failure.
(------------)



[Lynchburg-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Schools]


The Lynchburg City School Board says it will talk with lawyers from a conservative religious group about whether to continue its practice of opening its meetings with a prayer.
Board members will hold a closed meeting with representatives of the American Center for Law and Justice, a Virginia Beach group founded in 1990 by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.
The ACLU has threatened legal action if the board continues to open its meetings with a prayer.
Lynchburg is the only Central Virginia school board to continue the practice.
School boards in neighboring Amherst and Bedford counties have stopped praying during meetings.

[E-Missing-Student]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-54 29:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A Virginia Tech student has been missing for almost a week now.
Yesterday, the family of Rebecca Myers searched Ocala National Forest based on a report that some members of the "Rainbow Family" were heading there.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The 20-year-old Myers left her family on a Thanksgiving vacation in Key West. Friends at Virginia Tech say Rebecca rowed crew and played guitar under her loft. Her calendar shows she planned to be back last Friday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:51]
[IN Q=She loves school]

((SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND SHE LIKES IT HERE. SHE SAID DURING SPRING OR CHRISTMAS BREAK SHE WANTS TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT NEVER RUN OFF AND NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE SHE'S GOING.))
[SUPER=01-Kira Pedersen/Roommate;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=where she's going]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But a book in Rebecca's dorm room talks about the Rainbow Family --
[super=03-Pocahontas Co., WV/File Tape]

a hippie-like national group that promotes peace and love. Detectives say Rebecca may have left Key West with members of that group.
(------------)



[E-Race-Relations]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=Race Relations]


Roanoke Valley residents and community leaders got together to talk about race relations yesterday.
Their conference brought spirited discussion, and they're hoping "One Roanoke Valley," will also bring constructive change.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Meeting in small groups, more than 100 participants discussed racial and ethnic diversity in the community, the classroom and the workplace.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:53:21]
[IN Q=If we're not going to make suggestions]

((DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE MAYOR: IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND OFFER POSITIVE CRITICISM OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE, OF ALL KINDS OF RACES AND ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPROVE.))
[SUPER=@Bowers]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=then we're not going to improve.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


The conference will produce a plan of action, and organizers will measure their progress when the group meets again in May.

[US-Airways]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=US Airways]


U-S Airways customers can breathe a sigh of relief.
That's because the National Mediation Board has ordered the Association of Flight Attendants to return to the bargaining table.
That ends the possibility of a strike by flight attendants during the holiday season.
The Union wanted the Board to declare an impasse in negotiations.
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Stars fell from the sky over Thailand-- find out what we mean when News-7 at noon returns.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And 102 days after she was born, this little girl has a name.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[Panda-Name]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


In China it's tradition a newborn is not named until its more than 100 days old.
It's meant to bring good luck.
In respect of Chinese tradition, officials at the San Diego zoo have held off naming its newest panda resident-- after all she belongs to China.
But today at 102 days old the black and white cutie has a name.
Manuel Gallegus has the details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[3:30:45]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Don Lindburg/San Diego Zoo; :37]
[SUPER=01-Manuel Gallegus/Reporting; :51]
[SUPER=01-Tammy Grinde/Zoo Visitor; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-An Wenbin/China Consul General; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=CBS News, San Diego.]

((AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO, CHINAS CONSUL GENERAL REVEALED THE NAME CHOSEN BY CHINA FOR THE ZOOS MOST SIGNIFICANT NEW ARRIVAL A RARE, BABY PANDA BEAR. HUA-MEI, WHICH MEANS CHINA/USA AT 102 DAYS OLD, THE FEMALE GIANT PANDA CUB IS THE ONLY PANDA BORN IN THE U.S. TO LIVE LONGER THAN FOUR DAYS BREEDERS TRIED FOR THREE YEARS TO GET THE ZOOS TWO ADULT PANDAS TO MATE. BUT THE MALE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN SLEEPING AND EATING, THAN THE AMOROUS ADVANCES OF THE FEMALE. SHE WAS ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED AND NOW ZOOKEPERS ARE THRILLED WITH HER BABYS PROGRESS.
-SOT-DR. DON LINDBURG, PANDA TEAM LEADER, SAN DIEGO ZOO

everyday is an exciting day, there's a bit of mystery involved, what will she do next. That kind of thing, motivates us to put forth our very best effort. STAND-UP- WHILE MOTHER AND BABY REST IN THE BACK BIRTHING AREA, THE FATHER, SHI SHI PLAYS AROUND OUT HERE HE IS 21 YEARS OLD, ON LOAN FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. PAPA BEAR DRAWS A BIG CROWD.
-SOT-TAMMY GRINDE, ZOO VISITOR

it doesn't look real , it looks so cute. And I think because its a little out of the ordinary..its not at every zoo, its not everywhere. IN FACT, MOTHER AND CUB ARE ALSO ON LOAN EVENTUALLY THEY WILL BE SENT BACK TO CHINA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
-SOT-AN WENBIN, CONSUL GENERAL PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA

this new baby is a symbol and crystal of our friendship and cooperation. PANDAS ARE ENDANGERED, ONLY ABOUT ONE THOUSAND EXIST IN THE WILD MANUEL GALLEGUS, CBS NEWS SAN DIEGO.))

[skydiving-record]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Skydivers have set a new world freefall record in Bangkok.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bangkok, Thailand]


572 of them landed right on target in a clearing in the heart of the Thai capital today.
Among the record-breakers was U-S Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Hugh Shelton.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

((GENERAL HUGH SHELTON:OF COURSE THAILAND IS A VERY SPECIAL PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, A GREAT MILITARY TO MILITARY (RELATIONSHIP) AND SO IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE.))
[SUPER=01-General High Shelton/Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=to come here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The event is among the most dramatic marking the birthday of Thailand's king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, who turns 72 on Sunday.
(------------)



[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]


On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 51 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still to come in sports, Virginia's college football player of the year is announced.
Find out who walked away with the honor...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and to throw or not to throw.
The Denver Broncos say no as they slap two fans with penalties for throwing snowballs.
Patrick has the details, next.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]



[S-Dudley]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#SP-52 4733tc]
[GRAPHIC=DUDLEY AWARD]


The 1999 Dudley Award is given to the top college football player in the state.
The decision came down to the wire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


Virginia Tech's Corey Moore was named the top college football player in the state in the closest balloting in the 10 year history of the award.
Moore and UVa's Thomas Jones tied for the honor, but Moore won the tiebreaker by having one more first place vote.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE OTHER...]
[SUPER=01-Corey Moore/1999 Dudley Award Winner; :09]
[SUPER=01-Thomas Jones/Dudley Award Finalist; 21]
[SUPER=01-Curtis Keaton/Dudley Award Finalist; :44]
[RUNS=:53]
[OUT Q=...FLORIDA STATE."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Corey also won a huge national honor yesterday as the Football News named him its national defensive player of the year beating out among others Florida State's Corey Simon.
Moore will be honored January 31st at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
(------------)



[S-VMI]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-58 (17:02)]
[GRAPHIC=VMI hoops]


The V-M-I Keydets got 24 points from Nick Richardson in their 82 - 76 win over Bluefield College.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/Keydets vs Rams; :]


The Keydets and Rams squared off at Cameron Hall in Lexington.
Bluefield would start on the run, Andrew Law makes the steal and glides in for the easy layup.
But the Keydets come right back. Aaron Demory throws up the jumper and misses, but Richardson is there for the put back for two of his 24 points.
[SUPER=33-VMI/82/Bluefield Coll./76/;]


On this play, Demory pulls up and hits the jumper and the Keydets get the 82 to 76 win.
(------------)



[S-Jarrett]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-57 (15:40)]
[GRAPHIC=Dale Jarret]


On to NASCAR, Winston Cup points champion Dale Jarrett has added another honor to his remarkable season.
Jarrett was named the 1999 Driver of The Year receiving 12 of 15 first place votes.
(------------)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I just wish...]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/1999 Driver of The Year; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....they've done."]
(------------)



[Broncos-Fans]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Broncos]


Two Denver Broncos fans have had their hands slapped for allegedly throwing snowballs at an opposing team.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO/NFL - ABC]


When Oakland played Denver on November 22-nd, several Raiders players were pelted with snowballs.
Two fans have had their season tickets revoked for the final three home games of the year.
Coach Mike Shanahan says team officials made the right decision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm sure]
[SUPER=01-Mike Shanahan/Broncos Head Coach]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=was very good.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The two expelled fans have not been named.
Team officials say more fans could still face punishment for the incident. (------------)
by SS